The Immunological Basis for Immunization Series, Module 17: Rabies

Overview

This module is part of the series The Immunological Basis for Immunization, which was initially developed in 1993 as a set of eight modules focusing on the vaccines included in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). In addition to a general immunology module, each of the seven other modules covered one of the vaccines recommended as part of the EPI programme — diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio, tetanus, tuberculosis and yellow fever. The modules have become some of the most widely used documents in the field of immunization.

With the development of the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) (2005–2015) and the expansion of immunization programmes in general, as well as the large accumulation of new knowledge since 1993, the decision was taken to update and extend this series.

The main purpose of the modules — which are published as separate disease/vaccine-specific modules — is to give immunization managers and vaccination professionals a brief and easily-understood overview of the scientific basis of vaccination, and also of the immunological basis for the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on vaccine use that, since 1998, have been published in the Vaccine Position Papers.